Danyang, Korea

Built for the Hanil Cement Company to educate visitors about concrete and how it can be recycled, architects for the Visitors Center and Guesthouse use a variety of construction and landscaping techniques. From various concrete casting methods to the use of recycled, broken pieces of concrete for tile and gabion walls, the building and displays will continue to evolve and change as new techniques are designed.

Design concept and solution: The site is located to the west of the factory, on a forested hill adjacent to Mt. Sobaek National Park. The existing land had been changed considerably to facilitate the movement of trucks to the cement factory. To restore the damaged original mountains and forest and revive the landscape, the team brought in earth to fill the courtyard between the two buildings, along the original mountain ridge. The seeming flow of the mountains from the west leads to the reception and dining areas in the inner courtyard of the building.

The design uses cast fabric-formed concrete—a construction method where two fabric layers have a structural fine aggregate concrete pumped between them—for walls on the east façade, which curve and fold vertically to evoke images of the forest beyond. Four, tall vertical windows in this wall allow visitors to view a section of the factory’s concrete production process. Two larger glazed openings on that side also have views to the cafeteria and courtyard, the latter of which is encircled by a water garden.

Total construction cost: Withheld

People

Architect
BCHO Architects Associates
55-7 Sil bldg
Banpo-4dong
Seocho Gu
Seoul Korea 137-803
T: +82 02 537 8261
F: +82 02 537 8201

Design Architect:
Byoungsoo Cho, AIA

Project Team:
Nicholas Locke, Youngjin Kang, Taehyun Nam, Greg Hale

Interior designer:
BCHO Architects Associates

Engineer:
SDM Engineers

Consultant(s)
Landscape:
BCHO Architects Associates

Lighting: 
BCHO Architects Associates

Other:
Mark West: Fabric Form Concrete Consultant

General contractor:
Youngmook Cho : CANDO Intl’ Ltd.

Photographer(s)
Young Kwan Kim, BCHO: Wooseop Hwang

Renderer(s)
BCHO Architects Associates
Nicholas Locke, Youngjin Kang

CAD system, project management, or other software used:
Autocad, Rhinoceros 3D

 

Products

Structural system:
Reinforced Concrete / Steel Suspension Rods

Exterior cladding
Fabric Formed Concrete:
custom

Recycled Concrete. Steel Gabions: custom

Concrete:
Wooden Form Concrete

Wood:
Cedar Paneling

Roofing
Built-up roofing:
Reinforced Concrete with Recycled Concrete

Windows
Wood:
Cedar Paneling

Steel:
Exterior Galvanized Steel – CANDO Intl’ Ltd.

Aluminum:
Eagon System Window

Glazing
Glass:
Yong Gwang Glass, Pair (Insulated Glass Unit)

Doors
Entrances:
Deong Dul Windows/Doors - Custom

Metal doors:
CANDO Intl’ - Custom

Wood doors:
Deong Dul Windows/Doors - Custom

Sliding doors:
EAGON window Systems

Hardware
Locksets:
MENTO KOREA

Hinges:
MENTO KOREA

Security devices:
SECOM

Interior finishes
Acoustical ceilings:
Custom Douglas Fir

Wallcoverings:
Custom Douglas Fir Paneling / Drywall with Paint Typ.

Floor and wall tile Grinded Concrete with hardener Finish – Level 1

Furnishings
Fixed seating:
Custom- ABC Furniture

Lighting
Interior ambient lighting:
FEELUX

Downlights:
FEELUX

Exterior:
FEELUX
CANDO Intl Ltd